</s>From Democrat and Chronicle man's name out of a telephone book. James Earl Ray, alleged as- It was also learned yesterday Mire Services. James EarlRay, alleges as- book. It was already learned yesterday King, lived quietly in Lourdes. It was in Maytown, Lisbon for king. In every boarding house. hotel in May town and then dis- weeks in speedy boarding houses. hotel is in downtown Lisbon for appeared. One landlord said she thought that's the man who called one landy said she though decided the day clerk of the from a newspaper said the of the photographs of Ray pub- King. But the author of the of the photographer's wife, the day clerk's job. King, But was wrong and so many for- of the photograph of Ray Pub- the photographer's son, Mr. Adam Sapa- Ray Sung said that the the newspaper said that he was of the photography of Ray Spapa- the photographer of Ray Pup- room was wrong so and so for- by commercial hotel on the ray sung sung in May 17. Later, said Mr. Adams Sapa. room, said said Adam Spapa, busy commercial hotel also on the sketch. She said she had to be determined that the cana- room was not allowed to the determined by Mr. Spapa. skeleton. She asked to be a dian embassy in Lisbon also also- were not amused because of the dian seeing a man who who car- dian saying that he had how he said he knew he was at the dian says that the consulate How he knew that he has a dian said that his name had How he was I loved him was and she said he loved him at the the man who was name of Sheya. the Palt Bridgeman the man was the name of the name name of the consulate She said the man knocked at her She said he was the man been mispelled on the passport- She said it was the Canadian consularor the assistant of King of She said that she was<loc_183><loc_536><loc_389><loc_525><loc_183><loc_525>She said to the man knocked at the man knocked on the<loc_183><loc_534><loc_389><loc_535><loc_389><loc_535>the Canadian consulate said he the assassination of King <loc_389><loc_548><loc_183><loc_548>his birth certificate on the name d the assistant and handed over

Summary  
The documents detail extensive FBI and Canadian law enforcement investigations into James Earl Ray's movements and potential connections to the "Minutemen" organization following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Key inquiries focused on Ray’s alleged residency near a Minuteman member in Montreal during Expo 1967, his travel routes from Los Angeles to New Orleans (December 15–19, 1967), and photographic equipment purchases in Chicago. Canadian authorities, including the RCMP, conducted passport reviews and searches for Ray, while U.S. agencies tracked toll booth calls, motel stays, and vehicle sightings, such as a dark blue Mustang with Georgia license plate near Buffalo, New York, on April 30, 1968. An anonymous letter to Mrs. Mary Grooms in Rochester, New York, alleged involvement of Black Nationalists, Muslims, and communists in the assassination plot, though FBI analysis found no definitive matches. A Toronto Star reporter, Robert Johnstone, provided information linking Ray to the Minutemen, citing his presence in Montreal during Expo 67 and contact with a group member. Edward Whitney, a New York tax official, reported seeing an individual resembling Ray at the Holiday Inn in Buffalo on April 9, 1968, prompting FBI verification efforts.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (suspected assassin of MLK Jr.; investigated for travel routes, equipment purchases, and vehicle sightings)  
- **Robert Johnstone** (Toronto Star reporter; provided information on Ray’s associations with the Minutemen)  
- **Edward Whitney** (New York tax official; reported sighting resembling Ray at Buffalo Holiday Inn)  
- **Vinton W. Ostrander** (Provincial Motel guest in New Orleans; described vehicle and parking details)  
- **Mrs. Coulson** (motel guest who noted absence of matching vehicle for Ray)  
- **Charles Dunham** (individual claiming knowledge of MLK’s assassination and alleged involvement of Ray)  
- **Earl Everett Ray** (uncle of James Earl Ray; investigated for death circumstances in Buffalo, New York, 1959)  

Key Locations  
- **Montreal, Canada** (Ray’s alleged residency near Minuteman member during Expo 1967)  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana** (Provincial Motel stay by Ray, December 16–19, 1967)  
- **Buffalo, New York** (Holiday Inn sighting on April 9, 1968; dark blue Mustang reported near city on April 30, 1968)  
- **Los Angeles, California** (Ray’s departure point for travel to New Orleans)  
- **Tucson, Arizona** (telephone call locations and travel routes tracked by FBI)  
- **Chicago, Illinois** (photographic equipment orders, including Kodak Dual Projector and replacement camera)  
- **Rochester, New York** (origin of anonymous letter to Mrs. Mary Grooms)  

Key Events  
- **December 15–17, 1967**: FBI analyzed telephone call records tracking Ray’s travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans, including toll booth interactions in Tucson and Buffalo.  
- **December 16–19, 1967**: Ray stayed at Provincial Motel in New Orleans; guests provided descriptions of vehicles but noted no matches to his appearance.  
- **April 30, 1968**: Report of a dark blue Mustang with Georgia license plate near Buffalo, New York.  
- **May 1968**: FBI inquiries into photographic equipment orders and warranty records for Ray’s purchases.  
- **April–May 1968**: Investigation into Earl Everett Ray’s death in 1959 and associated records.  
- **Anonymous letter to Mrs. Mary Grooms** (Rochester, New York): Alleged involvement of Black Nationalists, Muslims, and communists in MLK assassination plot; FBI laboratory analysis found no definitive matches.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted telephone call analyses, motel guest investigations, equipment tracking, and anonymous letter analysis.  
- **Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)**: Conducted searches for Ray, including passport application reviews and reward offers.  
- **Metropolitan Toronto Police Department (MTPD)**: Assisted in RCMP inquiries on Ray’s Canadian connections.  
- **Eastman Kodak Company (EKO)**: Provided information on photographic equipment orders and warranty records.  
- **Buffalo Police Department**: Assisted in locating Earl Everett Ray’s remains and death circumstances.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bf-374_sec_004_ser_290-336-part_5_of_6.pdf

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